31st December

May We Wish All Our Owners, Followers and Supporters A Very Happy New Year.

Our 7th Day of Christmas Dog is Hippo.

I received an odd phone call one day from a gentleman saying he knew of an eight month old puppy with a skin condition on a travellers site and he could pick the dog up if I would take it,he said he was going over the following morning.

It happened to be a Sunday and I took my mobile to church with me (against all the rules) but never heard another word and was unable to contact him.

Then I was contacted by the local council kennels it seemed the puppy had found her way there and they signed her over to us.

When I picked her up she hardly looked like a dog let alone a stafford.

She had grey and pink wrinkled skin and hardly any fur at all and she was tiny. She did look exactly like a hippo.

We treated her demodex and she gradually improved developing muscles and growing a lovely brindle coat.

We knew she needed a special home and then we heard from Mandy.

She lived in the next village and had just lost a Staffy cross and her remaining dog was lonely. She also had cats and a cottage on the common where all the local dogs would call in to say "Hi" and have a treat.

It was the perfect home for Hippo and she took to standing at the cottage gate and greeting her friends as if she had been made for it.

She promotes Guildford SBT rescue everywhere she goes and brings her friends to fundraising events.

Because she lives close by we see her regularly, she even sent me a Christmas card!

She grew the most beautiful golden brindle coat but never grew much bigger.

She is definitely a one off, our own Guildford Stafford Celeb!

30th December

On the sixth day of Christmas .............Look what we found in our stocking this Christmas?

This is Dolly who came on Christmas Eve.

She is sixteen weeks old.

Another victim of Christmas.

She came from another rescue, and was unexpectedly returned to the lady who ran the rescue on Christmas Eve morning. The lady already had ten dogs and was expecting a houseful of guests the next day so she rang us and we just happened to have a space........

She is very sweet and good.........originally she and her sister were going to be sold to pay for drugs by their feckless owner, but his girlfriend signed them over to the rescue at six weeks old.

29th December

Our 5th day of Christmas dog is Reuben now called Harley.

Reuben came to us through the RSPCA  he had demodetic mange and an open sore on the top of one leg.

The family who claimed they had only owned him for a week were happy to sign him over as they could not afford the veterinary treatment for his mange.

He was a big chap, boisterous and demanding.

We treated his mange and had him neutered and the sore stitched on his leg.

Then on Christmas eve when we had had him about two months, I noticed a hard, bony lump above his eye.

Further tests revealed this to be a benign bone tumour which had to be removed. The surgery was done by Fitzpatrick Referrals at a reduced rate. It was an anxious time and at one point we thought he may lose his eye. His eye was saved and the surgery was a success. He went on to make a full recovery.

Despite this no home was forthcoming, only one person ever showed any interest in him at all and then they just disappeared.

Then along came Deb. It was a match made in heaven ,she immediately liked him and after a short trial he became her devoted companion even proving to be gentle with her baby grandson and becoming best friends with the cat! He remained boisterous and demanding but also incredibly sensitive and intuitive.

He is one of our Guildford Stafford celebrities.

28th december

Sapphire.

Sapphire came to us in April. She had originally been homed by Dogs In Need at eight months along with another dog, to a girl who worked with horses. sadly five years later she lost her job and her accomodation and returned both dogs to rescue. We took on Saff as Dogs In Need had no spaces.

Sapphire is now 6/7 years of age. She is ball obsessed and is happy with a game of ball as her exercise, especially around the stable yard, hiding it in the wheelbarrow or a bucket.

She is medium build but solid and can be a bit of a tank! She is quiet in the home and can be left. She is good with dogs she knows but not so good with strange dogs and would be protective of her ball.

She could live with the right male dog preferably another breed.

She has been greatly admired when we have been collecting outside Pets At Home.

Another lovely girl who just gets over-looked but longs for a fireside of her own...........

27th December

With the upheaval of Christmas and the New Year many will be glad to settle back  into their normal routine. For rescue it is always the same whatever the time of the year.

In January this year, Alison had a call from a young lady in the Abbey Wood area of London asking for help in finding her dog Brodie a home. As we live reasonably close to this part of London, Alison called me to discuss Brodie's case and see if I could help,. Unfortunately Alison does not always have a  good geographical mind and I explained that although it was London it is still approximately an hour and a half away from me but I would ring up the owner to discuss Brodie's situation and see what we could offer. Whilst it was one of the normal reasons :- New job, working long hours, being left for long periods and not taking her for walks this had a twist.

The young lady, who was Brodie's first owner, had her from a puppy of 8 weeks but, due to a change in her work, was being left for excessive hours (10hrs or more per day). Although Brodie was house trained she would periodically soil the house when being left for longer periods. Although there was a garden, Brodie would have to settle for a quick walk around the block on the days her first owner was able to find sufficient time. In 2008, Brodie's first owner set about finding her a new home and she placed Brodie up for re-homing through a website offering free advertising. Prospective new owners were checked,  until she found someone suitable and they were informed of Brodie's stress soiling. When Brodie was handed over to her new /second owners the paperwork including her microchip documents for change of ownership was also handed over. 

Two weeks later, the new owner rang the first owner screaming and shouting that Brodie had peed in her house and she was giving her to someone else. The first owner wanted to have Brodie back as she had not checked out the new home but the second owner refused with some expletives and passed her on.

In June 2009, Brodie's first owner received a call from the Dog Warden informing her hat they had recovered her. They managed to trace her through the microchip and informed her that her dog had been found tied up to some park railings. Realising it must be Brodie, her first owner went to collect her. Brodie was so thin that you could see her bones through her skin and she had been used as a breeding machine for a  'quick buck', the puppies sold and dispose of dog!!!!  Brodie was taken, by her first owner, to the vet who told her that the puppies would probably be no more than 6 weeks old. Although her circumstances had not changed Brodie's first owner nursed her back to health but soon realised that she still needed a new home. This time she would try through a recognised Stafford rescue as there was more to re homing than she realised.

All we could offer was a home from home re-homing, where the dog remains in it's own home until a new one can be found. Everything else is the same. Home checks are carried out and meetings between the prospective new owners and the dog take place for suitability. Brodie's first owner accepted and Brodie was placed on Guildford's website. Within 2 hours of Brodie going on line we had an application of interest for her. It seemed perfect. I spoke to them explaining about Brodie's soiling and they seemed undeterred. A home check would be more difficult as they lived in South Wales but with the kind help of the local Dog Warden, a home check was undertaken and passed with flying colours. The next obstacle to overcome was the arrangements for Brodie to meet her prospective new owners as they had to travel from Wales and Brodie's first owner from S.E London to convenient and well known location near Dorking in Surrey.  All was going well. Jan and Jeff arrived at the location but Brodie's owner was lost and her Sat Nav said another hour to destination. We decided to relocate to my house and meet there, as it was easier for Brodie's first owner to find. Jan and Jeff arrived and eventually Brodie with her owner. My husband was banished with our dogs upstairs and Jan and Jeff were able to meet Brodie. Brodie went straight to Jan and Jeff and looking at  their face it was love at first sight, you would never have known that Brodie was not theirs.

Brodie now lives in Wales with Jan and Jeff. I was lucky enough to able to visit them not long after they had adopted Brodie to see how she was settling in. Brodie is a different dog, having long country walks and plenty of cuddles. She still has accidents in the house from time to time when they are out but is clean when they are there, unless you are a male visitor coming into the house when she wags her tail while peeing with excitement! Jan and Jeff accept Brodie's problem as her qualities far outweigh them, she is a delight and joy to have and fantastic with the grandchildren. In their words "Brodie is not going anywhere but here!"

All dogs have good and bad traits, not just rescues. It is us as owners to work the problems out and get the dog to an acceptable level that we as owners are able to enjoy them. What is acceptable for one person is not for another.  There is no such thing as a perfect dog except in the eyes of the owner.

 

26th December

The third Stafford to inspire me and keep me in love with the breed is Lexus.

He is the only one we have adopted from the rescue ourselves in the four years we have been running.

I received a phone call from a young man saying he could no longer keep his dog as he was working and the stress from worrying about his dog and wanting to get back for him was too much. He had been homeless with his dog and now had a flat and a job and the dog was not used to being left.

The dog warden also contacted me about the situation and said it must be bad as he doted on the dog, she arranged to be there when I picked him up.

I asked how big he was ( I dread tall long legged ones) he said he was a short legged old fashioned sort, mmm, I was still not sure.

He also said he was ball obsessed, not very good with other dogs and cats but would ignore them if he had his ball. I asked about children." He's not really used to them and he could catch their hand when he's playing with his ball." He answered." And he has his own hoodie!"

 All this turned out to be a pretty good description.

I arrived at the flat, Caroline the dog warden was already there, I went inside and the owner called Lexus in.

You never know what you are going to get in this situation but I shall never forget my first sight of Lexus.

Round the corner trotted one of the shortest Staffords I have ever seen with a brown patch over one eye.

I put him in the crate in the back of the car whilst Caroline comforted his  heart broken owner, getting a soggy shoulder in the process.

He barked and cried all the way to the kennels until , glancing in the rear view mirror I saw with horror him emerge from the top of the crate. I was on a main road I couldn't stop but I need not have worried it turned out there were some balls in the back of the car and that was what he was after!

He was not happy in kennels. He barked continually and suffered several bouts of kennel cough from making his throat sore. I would go in and walk him where I discovered he was happy with a game of football, played with a flat ball.
Unfortunately, no home was forthcoming and he remained in kennels for six months.
Eventually a space came up with us and I brought him home. Dave, my husband liked him and we couldn't understand why no-one wanted him.
One lady came to see him and was dismayed when he reversed into her for a stroke commenting that she would prefer his other end. Then no-one seemed to "get" his football game like we did. "No don't pick it up, wait till he puts it down, then kick it."
Then it was time for our annual holiday, I couldn't bear to put him back in kennels, so we took Spryte and him with us. When this was a success the seeds were sown to make him part of our family, eventually Dave signed the paperwork, gave the full donation and he was officially ours.

He and Khan adore each other lying around on the sofas together or playing. One year they knocked the Christmas tree over! Despite initial signs we do have to watch him and Spryte as although they love each other most of the time they will fight at certain trigger moments.
He loves and is brilliant at football. This is his main exercise which he much prefers to a walk. Like any professional footballer he is prone to injuries because he throws himself in without counting the cost! At first we were always taking him to the vet with suspected broken bones only for him to make a miraculous recovery! We are wiser now.
Like his predecessors, Sam and Josh he is a terrible scrounger, resulting in upset tums. One day he even ate the soap off the side of the bath!


Sleeping with Khan

 He could play Bullseye in Oliver Twist.
He loves a lap in the evening being quite specific who he wants to cuddle up with.
He bounds through the back door when coming in from the garden at mealtimes and immediately starts barking thus upsetting all the other dogs and teaching them bad habits.
He always goes up to the other dogs crates causing a great commotion, you can have your back to him but you know who it is! "Lexus!"
And he makes the most extraordinary noises even for a Staffie, so people wonder what it is.



All in all he is a character. He has wickedness and
faithfulness in equal measures. He stole a mince pie the other day when I had turned my back for a second but I also found him sitting on my feet as I distractedly wrote a late card.
As far as I am concerned he is everything a Staff should be and I am so glad he is ours.

25th December

 Guildford and District Staffordshire Bull Terrier Rescue wish you all a Very  Merry Christmas.

 

 Percy

 

Hi everyone.

My name is ......... well everyone now calls me Percy as I have to keep my original name a secret. I’m quite an old chap and my back legs are a little stiff. If you ever meet me you will recognise me by my red coat, short stubby tail and deep bark.

Sometime in 2007 I found myself without a home. I’m not very good with dates as I can’t read a calendar but I remember that the days were short it was cold and there were lots of coloured lights on trees and in peoples homes. I’m not sure how I managed to lose my way home but eventually someone in a van came to collect me and take me to a place that I heard them call Treetops where there were lots of other dogs that all had rooms of their own. They gave me a room of my own, where I could stay, that wasn’t as comfortable as my old home but at least I had a warm shelter for the night, a regular meal and somewhere to stretch my legs. I waited here for some time for my mum and dad to come and collect me but they never came. I didn’t have one of those special medals on my collar or the special new thing that dogs get to tell people where they live so they weren’t able to find my old home. I became miserable and grumpy as my teeth and back legs hurt and I wasn’t getting as much attention as I would like. Eventually when the days became longer and the temperature had got warmer someone called Alison came to take me to her home. She explained that she would try and find me a new home and take the pain away from my teeth and legs. I arrived at her house to be welcomed by Dave and some younger people that must be her children. Alison also introduced me to some other dogs similar to me called Spryte, Khan and Lexus. She made me comfortable and gave me something special with my food to help my joints. She also took me to see a nice lady in a white coat who took some of my teeth away to stop the pain in my mouth. 

After many days had passed, Alison explained that someone else called Valerie and Stuart would come to take me to a new place to stay. Alison explained that this was for a short holiday and that I would be looked after well but told me that I would be coming back to her after a few days so she could continue to find me a new home. Well, a few days turned into many days but I can’t complain because my new foster home was even more comfortable and had some more dogs similar to me who welcomed me into their pack. Their names are Daisy, Honey and Oscar. I was given a new bed and a new indoor kennel to sleep in while my foster parents were out at work.

I waited a patiently for very long time for a new forever home but nothing happened. I was secretly hoping that I would be able to stay at my new foster home forever. As the nights grew longer, the day came when my foster carers put up a tree indoors and covered it in red lights and shiny balls. I began to get a little worried that I might be let out again and lose my way home. Then one night, a man in a red suit with a red hood, black boots, black belt and shiny buttons belt appeared while everyone had gone to sleep. He whispered in my ear that my wish would be granted and that I would be allowed to stay forever. When everyone woke up in the morning my new mum and dad told me that I would be staying forever and I felt a warm glow inside.

So because I love my new mum and dad so much I try to be as good as I can. I even give them a nudge in the morning to wake them up and ask for a cuddle. They take me for lovely walks every day and I have heard them say that the distance is about 1 mile ....lwhatever that is. I get to play ball from time to time and my back legs have improved because of the exercise. I know I am an old chap and I don’t know how long I will get to spend with my new family before I go to rainbow bridge but one thing is certain, these will be the best and happiest years of my life.

In loving memory of Percy our inspiration. Run wild and free.

24th December

A rescue dog speaks..........                                               

Tis the night before Christmas

And all through the house

Not a creature was stirring

Not even a mouse.

The other dogs are all sleeping

Of that I am sure

Because I can hear

The occasional snore.

But I lie and remember

A Christmas before

When I had my own home

I was loved and adored.

I can't understand it

Did I do something wrong?

Was I bouncy and boisterous?

On the lead was I strong?

It's just not the same

Though the rescue staff care,

As being the only,

The special dog there.

I have so much affection

Love and faithfulness to give

If only there was someone

Who I could live with.

If I had been there

On that first Christmas morn

The babe in the stable

I would have kept warm.

By snuggling up close

As only Staffords know how

As I would with the children

Of my own family now.

Tis the night before Christmas

And all I desire

Is a home of my own

And a bed by the fire.

So I'll close my eyes now

And dream of that home

Where I will be loved

No longer alone.

Harry and Trixie both know what it's like to spend Christmas in rescue kennels.

They were booked in with their two pups when their young owner lost his home.

Trixie and the pups were signed over to Guildford SBT Rescue but the owner hoped he could keep Harry and paid for him to stay in kennels.

Trixie was adopted by Sam and Jim as a companion to their old dog Susie.

Eventually in the Autumn Harry was signed over to the rescue but remained in kennels as there were no foster spaces.

Christmas came and went, still Harry waited, by now he had been in kennels over a year.

Then Susie died and Sam and Jim on hearing  Harry was still there, contacted the rescue.

Not only did Harry have a home at last but he and Trixie were re-united!

It's our own Christmas fairytale.

23rd December

Christmas is nearly upon us and the snow remains.

Riley's trial is going well so far, let's hope this Christmas is the first of many he will spend there.

Bullseye too remains in his foster home with Sally, Simon and Saffy so we are able to relax a little over the Christmas break and devote more time to the three dogs with us, Jade, Sapphire and Sandy.

Sandy has been chasing rabbits by moonlight across snow covered fields and woods. Not bad for a dog from a Croydon flat. She loves to run.

May we wish all our owners, followers and supporters a very happy Christmas.

We intend to feature a different dog each day for the twelve days of Christmas.

21st December

Now for the second Staffie to inspire me, my dear Joshua.

Having made up my mind I would have a Stafford of my own when I was older I then had to wait a very long time as I lived in shared houses until my early thirties.Then I decided enough was enough and secured a relatively well paid job and rented a house to myself. This I decided was the moment and I set about looking for a Stafford puppy!

I was told about rescue and spoke to Pat Pritchard and eventually was put in touch with Joanna Mason who just happened to have a bitch with four pups at Bellmead kennels, Battersea Old Windsor.

Josh was the third smallest and the last one not to have found a home. I did receive a home check and saw the pups once, picking him up a week later. I am tremendously grateful to Joanna for allowing me to have him, I question if I was able to provide a suitable home at that time, and if I would home a dog to my past self now. I think I probably wouldn't!

 I was working full time in shifts and had to sleep over several nights a week.

 Fortunately for Joshua my life was about to change dramatically and at Christmas Dave proposed!

Before we were married Dave adopted a Jack Russell from Dogs in Need to keep Joshua company.

So we began married life with the two of them and have a photo of them both with us on our wedding day.

However, all that was a few months ahead you need to hear more about Joshua as a pup.

Just as children vary in temperament so I believe, do dogs, and Joshua was no ordinary dog!

Once I got him home it was almost impossible to walk across the room as he would chase your feet!

He hated the car to start with and you would have to hold him very tight else he would try to hide under the seat! I owned a Morris 1000 at that time and the first time I drove up toWarwickshire to show him to my parents was horrendous! Someone leant me a cat carrier for him to travel in ( he was tiny) but he barked continually. I tried everything even reaching the point where I felt like leaving the carrier at the side of the road and driving off! Eventually letting him sit on my lap and finishing the journey like that. The normal three hour journey took me over five hours.

However, once we arrived and he and my father met each other, my Dad kept saying,"He's a proper Staff he is, a proper Staff, Ali," I am not sure what he feared I had brought home, but anyway the feeling was mutual and they loved each other instantly. Josh seemed to think his whole life so far had been preparing him for this moment, he tore round the house and found a porcelain pot pourri pig which he carried around leaving a trail of pot pourri all over the house.

Eventually he settled to carrying flower pots from one place in the garden to another back and forth until he was exhausted.

He used to fall asleep on his back with all four feet in the air in a gap between the cushions of the sofa.

Whenever we visited my parents for years after that he would dash in and  find the pig until my mother, fed up of the mess it made when all the pot pourri fell out, threw it away, but he still ran in and looked for it the second he was out of the car.

He was a terrible thief, jumping on the table to steal food especially when someone knocked on the door.

While staying with my mother in law, he stole a very rich cake she had just made and left to cool, bringing it all back a few minutes later, something she has never forgotten or forgiven him for.

He was grumpy and unreliable with other dogs but fine with our three children who came along after him.

On our wedding day when I said the words "All that I have, I give to you" one of our friends whispered to his wife "Joshua!"

Perhaps Dave should have known then the direction our life might take.

He was nearly sixteen when he died and was "old" for a very long time his body becoming more and more frail yet keeping going by spirit alone.

Near the end of his life we had just finished a walk and he was sitting in the front seat of the car, my other dogs a lurcher and a Patterdale were in the back behind the dog guard. When a young man arrived with a stunning young male Staff. I ushered him over to see Joshua who looked as if he was about to breathe his last when to our horror the young Staff jumped into the back of my car! There were some tense moments with the Patterdale going bolistic in the back and the young Staff not sure what his next move should be thankfully listening to his master and jumping out. At this point, Josh, who had been oblivious with his failing senses, saw the dog and leapt from the car grabbing the young dog's neck! Fortunately the young male was so surprised he didn't react but I was bright red with embarrasment, his body had all but given up but that indomitable spirit remained.

20th December

Sorry to have missed a couple of days, have been sorting a few chistmassy bits and generally trying to survive!

I feel Sandy is due another mention. I have been walking her with Sprite and they are beginning to interact a little. She loves to run and she is fast! I walked them at the ponies tonight along the bridlepath when it was nearly dark, and she loved it, bounding through the snow and has now got the hang of coming back again but not always applying her brakes in time!

She is quite an obsessive temperament and we are having a bit of trouble when she is out in the kitchen in the evenings as she just looks for her toy, even leaving her food to do so. I no longer want her having the toy as it upsets Sapphire and Sandy is getting more exercise outside now so doesn't really need to play indoors. She still doesn't realise that if she leaves her food someone else will soon come and eat it! All a little frustrating but we will work on it.

Snow falling heavily again as I write this.

Twas the run up to Christmas

And the Staff rescue phone

Kept ringing and ringing

Always the same moan....

Can you take my Staffy?

I just need a break

With the kids it's too much,

Much more I can't take.

Can you rehome my Staffy?

He's such a lovely boy

But he needs more attention

Than I can employ.

Can you take my Staffy?

I'm moving away

I'll be in another country

Come Christmas day.

Please can you help?

I've just lost my home

It's out on the streets now

My dog and I must roam.

And the dog wardens call

Three staffies have been found

Do you have any space at all or..

They'll all be put down.

We've just had a baby

Now the dog has to go

Cos you can't trust a dog

With a baby you know!

We would help if we could

It makes us despair

If only we could take

Them all into our care.

But the answer's the same

Their hopes all look slim

Cos this Christmas there's

Really no room at the inn!

To be continued......

17th December

Well here we are, a week to go and the snow is back.

People I speak to still seem to think that people buy a puppy for Christmas and throw it out  afterwards hence the "A dog is for life not just for Christmas" phrase. This is certainly not my experience with the Staffies.

For one the problem is all year round and it's always the run up to Christmas that is so bad. People just not wanting the dog there for Christmas along with everything else. Or else they are leaving the country, like someone who contacted us a few weeks ago, who was starting a new job and leaving the country on 22nd December.

Strangely enough we have always homed one or two over the Christmas period.

Riley has gone to his new home today and things are going well so far.

It seems odd without him, though I know he will be far better in a home of his own, it just takes time to adjust.

The two remaining cows, from the ones who gave him so much consternation, have gone too. They were penned up yesterday so I guessed they were waitng to go somewhere. I think these two were healthy and a rare breed so that their future should be bright. I walked Sandy up there in the snow this afternoon and the pens and shed stood empty. I will miss them, they have been there as long as I remember.

15th December

   It was a Bichon Frise! Ten marks to anyone who got it from my description yesterday, I never remembered, had to ask the family!
Awoke to a dusting of snow and frost, which looked very pretty and did not cause any problems,but soon there was grey cloud,giving way to the grimmest of afternoons and rain! The grimness seemed to seep right inside of you until my mood matched the weather.

An email request to take in a dog played on my mind. We have no spaces so cannot help even if the dog was suitable.

Sandy has been playing up a bit. I suppose as she gains confidence and learns to express herself it is bound to happen. She has played with the football in the garden in the mornings insread of attending to her "business". There is just not time for this first thing in the morning. It is easily remedied, I just need to make sure the ball is not left in the garden and she only has it when there is time to play.Easy but still not done!

Also we met Lexus returning from his walk, I am not sure what he whispered in her ear but she was the one who started up. So we now know she can retaliate when provoked.

Now for something very interesting which I do not pretend to understand.

I walked Jade and Riley up the bridleway this morning and Riley began to hesitate as we got close to the cows so I put him on the lead to prevent him bolting for home as before. When we passed the cows I saw that only two remained. I had heard the farmer was not keeping them. Sure enough when we reached the gate on the other side we could see the tracks of the cattle lorry, however,all was quiet now with just the two remaining cows eating hay by the shed. Somehow, Riley knew that something had gone on. If you remember the time he bolted before the calves had been taken away and I thought it was the reaction of the mums that frightened him, but it was the gateway he reacted to on both occasions which is half a field away from the shed where the cows stand. How did he know? And why did it upset him? Jade wasn't bothered in the least.

If anyone can explain his reaction I would be interested in hearing from you, he is obviously a sensitive chap, and it does appear that his senses and instincts are telling him clearly of an event that happened in the past.

Fascinating!

14th December

The weather remains pleasant for dog walking BUT it's coming back they tell us so we make the most of it.

The dogs all had good walks again today.

On Sandy and Spryte's walk we met a man with two small dogs (a tibetan terrier? I think, and one of those circus dogs, with a poodle like coat, whose name escapes my menopausal brain at the moment!)

Anyway, Sandy lay down but would not come back to me, instead bounding up to the man, who I then heard saying,"calm down, calm down". She then turned her attention to the dogs and someone growled to which the man then reprimanded his dog "Barney". I called again and this time she bounded back to me, thank goodness, and I explained she had been kept in a flat and not walked so everything was a bit new. He seemed unperturbed and carried on with his walk. Phew!

She and Spryte were interacting more.

It seems to have gone quiet on the phone calls and emails but crazy on the roads with people more agitated than usual and driving faster and with less tolerance. I was pushed and shoved by old ladies in Sainsburys yesterday! Season of goodwill......?

13th December

My thanks to Val for yesterdays blog.

I made the most of the better conditions for walking, and took all the dogs a good long walk. Only now do I realise just how exhausting the snowy weather was and how difficult it was slipping and sliding all over the place, but if the forecasts are right it may not be long until we are back there again!

There was one hiccup on the walk with Sandy and Spryte. We had just got halfway across the first field when I saw a man with three Westies coming towards us. I put Sandy back onto the lead, no problems, and walked the other side of the hedgerow until we had passed him, before letting her off again. Once off, she bounded away to the bottom of the field and disappeared. On reaching the bridleway there was still no sign so Spryte and I headed back towards the gate, there is a hill so this took some time. Reaching the top of the hill I could see the man and the Westies at the gate, I could not make out Sandy but by the way they were behaving I guessed she was there! We made our way down and the gentleman kindly brought her back towards me, much to the consternation of the Westies! Once close enough she bounded back when I called and we continued our walk. My thanks to the Westie man.

She went off lead again and bounded around a lot, her recall is good as long as she doesn't get too far ahead, she is beginning to interact with Spryte, though still a little awkwardly.

She is excellent in the garden now, understanding the purpose of our constant visits and running down to the bottom even when it is dark. She plays with a soft football, shaking it until her shoulders are black with mud!

She is quite a bold character,slightly hyper and very fast when she runs, you can see how things started to go wrong in her first home.

We have some good news for Riley, he is going to a home for a trial on Friday. The trial is not so much for him but how he fits into the family. Please think of Sarah who is going to have her hands full for the next few days, we all hope things work out and we are able to bring the best news of a permanent home soon.

I met a lady in Sainsbury's who adopted  a young female from us just over a year ago. It was great to catch up and hear how well things were going, although she is a lively one, drove me bonkers in the short time she was here, and she remains a handful, but much loved.

12th December

Sorry folks, Alison is having a well deserved rest this evening so you have me, Valerie doing the blog.

As we fast approach Christmas we all tend to think about Christmases past. Two years ago for Alison and I it was a very special one. Alison and Dave adopted Lexus. Stuart and I adopted Percy.

 Lexus's quest to be re homed, photo taken by Alison!

Lexus had been with Alison for sometime looking for a home but his lovable character won their hearts. Lexus with the help of Alison ensured that Dave got the message that Lexus wanted to stay and as they say the rest is history.

Percy's Christmas wish with Santa        

        .

Stuart and I agreed to foster Percy for a week whilst Alison went on holiday. As usual in rescue, an urgent case came in. So Percy stayed with us. Adoption enquires for Percy came but none were suitable due to Percy having arthritis, but 4 other dogs found new  loving homes due to him. Christmas came and I took an executive decision that this would be Percy's permanent home. So Percy's wish was granted, we adopted him on Christmas Day.

Sadly Percy died in June this year. Altogether we had a wonderful 2 years with him all to short a time but he is deeply embedded in our hearts and we are thankful that he was ours. Percy was unique in each and every way, as each Staffie is.

10th December

Warmer as promised, managed to do three lessons and earn money at last, instead of emergency transfusions of cash into my ailing bank account!

Time taken teaching meant the dogs did not get really long walks, but all had a run of some sort, except for Sandy who had to stay on the lead and could only run in the garden. I could see she really missed it but she had some time out in doors and really settled and enjoyed a fuss, she is getting there.......

no time for more tonight, have to put my efforts into our Christmas newsletter.

9th December

Still cold!

Walked Sandy with Spryte (my daughter tells me I have been spelling her name wrong and as she named her she should know!) A good hours walk and the first time she has been off lead again since last Friday.

She is really getting the hang of this running thing and was really enjoying herself. She came back to me when I called even when she was out of sight round a bend. I was careful not to overcall her which I know I have a tendency to do. She still has trouble with her brakes though, using my legs to stop! She still does not relate to other dogs and ignored Sprytes attempts to start a game but was good meeting other dogs. I think she could live with "the right" male dog.

Having treated all the dogs with Advocate tonight.

8th december

It's been a day with lots of driving and every journey I was late!

I have eventually managed to turn my ponies out in a decent sized field but because I was late it was done in the half light then dark.

As for the weather, we were promised warmer for tomorrow and indeed the ice has been melting but accompanied by a bitter wind and we are all shivering even indoors tonight.

The reason for my increased driving today is because I did a homecheck on a potential new home. Which I cannot say too much about because nothing definite has been decided. It is however another thing that takes time and because I was doing that some of the dogs did not get as long a walk as they would normally, you cannot do everything.

Now, a not very happy story from the recent bad weather.

Val's daughter was caught in a traffic jam one night last week on the way to Croydon when it was snowing, and she saw four white youths come from the golf course and begin to walk up a busy road with a Staffie puppy in tow no older than twelve weeks. The pup was struggling and kept sitting down and shivering then standing up wagging it's tail and walking on a few paces before sitting down again. To encourage it to walk the boys threw snowballs at it! On seeing this her six year old son, who was with her said, "I wish we could take that puppy and then we could throw snow balls at them".

Due to having her young son with her and the fact that there were four of them she thought it unwise to intervene but has been haunted by it ever since.

Val has asked me to let you know that she has had a reply from Lord Hattersley regarding becoming a patron of Stafford Welfare, or at least from his secretary. He is happy to be a patron though it may be in name only as he may not have time to attend events........so not a bad result, well done Val!

7th December

Having told you some of the negative comments I receive concerning the rescue, rather than become defensive and try explain why I do it I thought I would share with you some of the dogs who have shared my life and given me a deep love of this breed.

The first is Sam, or Samantha as we presumed she was when we discovered she was a bitch!

Sam appeared next door to me when I was aged nine, obtained from Birmingham Dogs Home by my neighbours after they had had a nasty scare from a "Peeping Tom"! The husband was tour manager for the band The Kinks and had an attractive young wife, totally out of place in a small Warwickshire village but then we were "newcomers" too having moved into one of the new houses!

Presumably, they had gone to the dogs home and picked the most vicious looking dog they could find as a guard dog! Maybe they did not even realise she was a girl when they called her Sam! They certainly took little notice of her tethering her in the back garden where she made extraordinary noises. When she was free she would come round to us and we would give her a treat.

Then they moved and just before the vans drove off the man turned to us (children) and asked did we want to keep the dog! I remember my mother not believing us, it certainly seems unbelievable now.

So Sam came to be ours. My parents both knew she was a Staffordshire Bull Terrier and had quite a lot of knowledge of and respect for the breed.

 I remember reading the description in The Observers Book Of Dogs, "Strong, Brave and intelligent", Which my father found very amusing.

Sam was a middle aged brindle bitch, taller than the present show Stafford, but this was the 1960's so the standard had only just been lowered.

My father managed a nursery growing roses and hardy nursery stock close to our house and Sam ran loose round the village. She adored my father and would spend much time with him at work but would also disappear and appear again at home on what we came to call her "secret paths".

We soon found out we weren't the only ones she called on for treats! She had a network of second homes where she would turn up in time for coffee and biscuits at one, tea and cake at another and one she used to get another dinner!

She would chase the butchers van from one end of the village to the other. Ask to go out in the middle of the night just to raid the neighbours dustbins. The local villagers were askance at this "townie" dog rampaging her way through the village.

 I loved her and wrote a book about her and her exploits complete with sketches.

She used to follow us onto the school bus and they would stop at the bottom of the hill to kick her off again.

She developed an uneasy relationship with our cat a huge male tabby, mainly walking around each other but both loved the fire and would lie in front of it until one night, horror of horrors their paws touched!

Sam would toast herself in front of the fire until her belly glowed red eventually moving to slump down panting a few feet away.

She would greet you if you came from another room as if you had been gone for a month. One time she was knawing a shin bone in the garden when my father came home and in her joy at seeing her master return, she chucked it in the air and swallowed it whole! With no ill effect apart from terrible wind!

We had  french windows at the back of the house and she would look through asking to come in on return from one of her jaunts, we would say, "there's a big black face at the window," until eventually her face turned grey and then white and we had to change it to "a big white face at the window".

After she died I said I was going to get a Stafford of my own when I was older.........and that's where it all started.

6th December

Thanks to Monty and Kassi for their blogs over the last few days.

Well it's easier to get around by car but still cold and pretty treacherous for walking dogs!

Sandy has had a number of off lead runs since my last entry including an hour walk on Friday during which the sun came out! I took  her on her own so I could give her my full attention and she was very good but there were still a couple of moments when she just did not respond to my calls. I guess this whole walking thing is new to her. She adores people and wants to stop and greet everyone we meet, she also loves children and pricks up her ears when she hears them, even though as far as I know, she has never had anything to do with them. It just seems to be innate with Staffords.

Since she has started having regular runs she appears to be much happier in other areas of her life and increasingly behaving more like a dog should.

She is now ready to move on to a home of her own. The ideal home for her would be with someone who has experience of rescue dogs, is at home most of the time and who can devote lots of time to Sandy and give her a regular routine and calm environment.

All our dogs are needing their own homes. Although we look after them as well as we can we cannot give them the indivdual attention they really deserve and the chance to cuddle up with their own special person in the evening.
As I have said before, it has to be the right home, so do let people know about us, spread the word and lets see our dogs lying by the fire of their own home this Christmas.



Still needing homes :- Sapphire, Jade, Riley, Bullseye and Sandy.

We have had six more requests to take dogs in over the weekend. We always notice an increase in people wanting to get rid of their Stafford in the run up to Christmas.

Don't forget we need funds too to keep going. It is costing £40 a week just to feed them as well as vet bills and utility bills.
Without your help we cannot keep helping these dogs.

Sapphire still needs a home of her own.

5th December

Welcome to another guest blogger:- Kassi's Blog

It’s gone; it’s gone thank goodness, just the odd snowman left standing looking lonely and cold.  Now I can get out after 5 days of being holed up and doing most of the daily exercise in the back garden with the noseball (Kassi that is not me!)

We have had fun in the snow, but enough is enough although I fear it will return shortly and I will be moaning yet again.

Christmas is fast approaching and I thought I would give a guide on some of the dangers to our pets at this time of year that you may not have thought about.  There are some really innocent looking things on the list so not teaching you to suck eggs, just an aide memoir as we struggle with baubles, wrapping paper and sticky tape.

A very important think to watch for when it is cold are the frozen lakes and rivers, please be aware that your dogs need to be kept safe as they can go under the ice and get into difficulty, I write sadly as one of my friends had this happen last year and they were unable to rescue him.

Substances which can be poisonous to pets include:
* Chocolate and liquorice (common Christmas gifts)
* Raisins and sultanas (used in Christmas cake recipes)
* Certain nuts
* Xylitol-sweetened foods
* Sweets
* Other foods such as onions, avocados and grapes
* Plants including lilies (and daffodils) Poinsettia cut or plant
* Cleaning and DIY products e.g. white spirit and lubricating oils
* Car anti-freeze
* Human medicines
Substances with low toxicity that could cause drooling, vomiting or diarrhoea include:

* Blu-tack or other similar adhesives (used to put up decorations)
* Charcoal and coal
* Cut-flower and houseplant food
* Expended polystyrene foam (present packing e.g. stereos/TVs)
* Holly and mistletoe (common Christmas plants/decorations)
* Matches
* Wax candles and crayons
* Silica gel (found in packaging)

Keep them safe and yourself worry free

Boris (on foster) and Kassi last Christmas

3rd December

MONTY’S BLOG December 2
The day begins with a bang and ends with a banger.
We’re late, very late for our morning walk. Blame the snow; blame waiting in for a delivery. Blame the traffic which is now into so called rush hour and Monty and I are waiting to cross the road leading to the countryside.But don’t blame the poor people struggling to work. At last, a posh silver Land Rover slithers and splashes to a halt, I give the customary but genuinely grateful wave to the driver. But as we pass in front of the vehicle it lurches forward and I bang on the bonnet in panic. I’ve a momentary glimpse of that oval green bonnet badge and a woman in a headscarf and she’s on the phone. We escape by inches and see that the “four-by” had stopped, not for one man and his dog,but for another car emerging from a side road.. The driver of a black BMW has seen it all and stops to ask if we’re OK. Yes, we are, but thank-you-for-stopping. That’s the Bang bit.
Our walk isn’t much fun today. I think we’re lucky to be doing it at all and we’re very careful traversing the board-walk along the riverside. On the way back we call in at the vet’s for Monty’s booster jab. We’re in the waiting room when an elderly lady with a fat little Scotty comes in to the reception desk. She wants a bag of “slimming food” so that the little boy will lose some weight. It is patiently explained to her that regular exercise as well as sensible eating would help a lot. “Well he does eat sensibly - he has a pack of best organic sausages every morning.” We can almost hear the receptionist rolling her eyes. And that’s the banger bit.

2nd December

Well, really can't ignore it any longer better call this the "Snow Blog". Do email over your dog/snow pics and I will try and put some on or if you know how and it is possible(don't ask me, I haven't a clue) add them on the comments.

More snow here and everything closed, so, once the ponies were done I had a pretty clear day. I walked all the dogs all day! It was a bit like the Forth Bridge, by the time I had finished everyone it was time to take the first one out again. 

My son and I walked Riley and Sprite, I couldn't remember if I had walked these two together before but Sprite would not play with him as Jade does so he had to settle and get on with the walk. We met friends with Biff, one of the biggest Greyhounds I have ever seen, a rescue, they had a run with him and Riley came away when asked, both dogs were off lead for the majority of the walk.

Between each walk I refuelled with high calorie nosh, during one break Khan and Lexus asked to go out so I took them into the garden. Khan ate poo and then snow! Lexus, looking for his ball managed to fall into the pond (not dangerous, but black and smelly) why do ones own dogs always cause the most trouble?

A big day for Sandy as it is 10 days since her spay so she could go off lead. There were no trains running so I let her off in the field behind our house( I have been working on recall in the garden) She bounded ahead then stopped and looked back to me as if asking for permission then bounded off again disappearing from view! Eventually she came back I crouched down inviting her in and she cannoned into me taking my leg from under me.(Have I mentioned about donations for danger money!) Back on the lead I changed my mind about where to walk and headed up to a path across open fields. On the way I met a friend with her 9 month old Lakeland puppy, she came with me. Off lead Sandy had a really good run but she did go along way ahead twice and seemed oblivious to our calls ,not in Bullseye's league but still a few scary moments. She had a really good run and has been much quieter and calmer in the house eating all her food with no wet food mixed in.Wonderful to give her a real run at last.

I mentioned the other day that Riley liked the snow the most but I am going to change that, it was Sapphire who was absolutely crazy tucking her tail under and scooting about madly!

So at the end of a day where I had lots of happy well walked doggies did I sit down with a warm glow of contentment of a job well done? Well no, during a conversation with my elderly neighbour who was discussing her Christmas present to us, she is very kind and good to us I must point out, she suggested I get rid of all the dogs and work in a supermarket.........I suddenly felt very deflated and very, very weary!

Jade surveying the sand school.                                          Khan

Postscript:- Having thought about things I wanted to say that both my neighbour and my friend's husband are people who do care about me and my family and they do have our best interests at heart, their comments stem from their concern and I have shared with you how they make me feel. Not everyone thinks it is commendable to run a SBT rescue!  Alison

1st December

This is Sandi's dog, Kassi, making her nose ball into a snow ball! See comment 30th Nov.

Feel a bit grumpy this evening,I normally enjoy the snow but it just seemed to make everything a lot harder today and I ended up feeling as tired as usual despite the schools being closed.

Sandy has done more ball playing in the garden and more wrecking of the kitchen with the Kong toy. We did however, meet a couple whilst out on our walk and the lady spoke to her resulting in Sandy convulsing in wriggles. So I explained her story, gradually adding that she was not mine but was in fact looking for a good home. They used to have a rescue dog they told me ( which I knew because I remember it) the lady was really very taken with her and asked lots of questions about the rescue as well as about Sandy....so you never know.

Changing the subject, a friend's husband started talking to me after church the other week, asking how many dogs we had at the moment.He is and has been for most of his life a dog owner but only of one dog at a time.

He couldn't understand why I had so many and although, as he kept pointing out he wasn't criticising but it must be an awful strain and was it fair on my husband and family?

It does upset me when this happens and it does happen quite often, because if I was history teacher or librarian I doubt we would be having such a conversation. As people we are, all of us, so different with different standards and views, so why do people feel this is something they can comment on?

Perhaps I should be more like my dear RSPCA friend Pat, when her husband asked her if they had to have quite so many animals she replied,"Yes, I need an interest, if it wasn't the animals it would be other men!" He walked into the garden but returned after a while replying, "I do think other men might cost less!"